Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
“Moose?”
He smiled. Who’d have thought that instead of pissing him off, her frequent questions would be so damn endearing? “Yeah?”
“Where were you going next? You said you hadn’t been planning to stay here long. So where are you heading?”
“Texas. North Houston to be exact.”
She sucked in a breath. “Really?”
“Yeah, why? You know someone there?”
“Oh, no. There’s an event there I’ve been wanting to go to for a white. It’s… uh… never mind.”
Her hesitation had him frowning. It also made him curious, which was another unique feeling for him—interest in another person’s life to the point he really wanted her to tell him what she held back. “Tell me.”.
Daisy sighed. “You’re going to think it’s dumb.”
“Doubt it.”
She laughed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. So I like to read.”
“Me too.” He refused to imagine a future where they sat in bed reading until late at night when they’d turn to each other and get lost in lust.
“Yeah, but I like to read steamy romance novels. Particularly those about… I can’t believe I’m telling you this… about motorcycle clubs.”
“What?” She’d spoken the final words so fast he couldn’t catch it. “About what?”
“Oh, God. This is so embarrassing, considering who you are.”
“Who I am. What the hell are you talking about?” Did women always speak in code like this?
“Kill me now,” she muttered, then smacked her forehead against his chest. “I read smutty romance novels about sexy men who ride motorcycles and belong to biker clubs. There’s a book signing coming up soon. I’ve always wanted to go to one. Meet the authors and hang out with other readers who like the same books I do. That kind of thing.”
He couldn’t have stopped the grin from spreading across his face if someone had held a gun to his head. “You’re shitting me.”
“No,” she muttered, but it was more a tortured moan. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“So what you’re saying is that I’m your type.” He gripped her wet hair and arched her head back to look at her beet-red face.
“Please just let me die.”
He chuckled. “I’ve seen the covers of those spicy books. You ladies are dirty. Sweet little Daisy, who knew you had such a kinky obsession?”
“I hate you,” she mumbled, making him laugh out loud. “I seriously hate you.”
He kissed her lips, then her forehead. “No you don’t. You know I’m teasing. I’m alone far more often than I have company. I’m a big reader too. I don’t judge anyone based on their preferred source of entertainment. What’s this signing called?”
“Motorcycles, Mobsters, and Mayhem.”
He chuckled. “Well, you and I have had plenty of mayhem since we met. Maybe you can pitch our story to your favorite author.”
That had her laughing along with him. “You might be onto something there. Anyway, I’ve dreamed of attending this signing for the past few years but didn’t have the money for it.” She shrugged.
“Hmm.” Damn if he didn’t want to make that dream come true for her. Could he? Would it work? They got along, and he wasn’t in a hurry to get rid of her. Hell, he actually enjoyed her company. Could he invite her on a road trip to Texas? He could attend his club’s party, and she could hit up her book signing. He’d have to buy her a bus ticket home because he never planned to return to this shitty town. Or she could keep traveling with him. Hit up the next city. Join him for his next journey. They could spend their days exploring and their nights tearing up the sheets. In between, they could relax, read, and just be.
You’ve lost your damn mind.
It’d never work. She was a vibrant twenty-three-year-old who’d come to resent his grumpy ass a few months in.
“Maybe next year,” he said, though the words turned his stomach.
She hummed in agreement. “Yeah, maybe.”
They didn’t talk after that. Moose fell asleep within minutes. Daisy’s soft, warm weight against him lulled him into a more peaceful sleep than he’d had in years. Maybe there was something to the idea of sleeping beside a beautiful woman.
There was certainly something about sleeping next to Daisy that did it for him, knowing she’d still be there when he woke. That he could touch her again? Kiss her? Pleasure her?
Well, that was pretty damn exhilarating.
CHAPTER EIGHT
WARMTH SURROUNDED HER, making her want to burrow in and surrender to the continued pull of sleep. Beneath her ear, the steady strum of a strong heart provided soothing background music to her dreams. Daisy had never felt more comfortable, safe, and protected, surrounded by an impenetrable shield that would keep anything unpleasant away.
But something on the periphery of her senses jarred her from the delicious nap. Impenetrable shields didn’t exist. What was trying to keep her from snoozing longer in Moose’s amazing arms?
She blinked heavy eyes as the fog began to clear.